Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
